Why we all care about these spaces
This is especially key when it comes to designing and delivering buildings for children and young people with special education needs or disabilities (SEND).
To transform these environments, requires a level of trust that enables the candid conversations which will allow true innovation to take place, and start us on the journey to secure improved outcomes for every young person with SEND.
Click to watch Oliver's story:
Around 15 per cent of the pupil population, are classed as having special educational needs or disabilities.
Future proofing and equipping our SEND school estate to enable this growing cohort of young people to thrive, develop and fulfil their potential, is a complex challenge.
So, in 2019, we embarked upon a journey of discovery committed to exploring how the process involved in creating buildings and estates that enable children and young people to truly thrive and reach their potential can be optimised.
We wanted to delve into the sector and explore all angles of deliver - from concept to colour schemes.
Bringing together knowledge, experience and expertise from across the public and private sector to explore opportunities to improve the design and delivery of these schools. Since our journey began, we've expanded our SEND knowledge forum to over 65 expert contributors, who have helped us develop a white paper about the sector and where improvements need to be made.
The white paper was released in 2020, but its key takeaways and commitments have been embedded and developed in our SEND design and deliver work going forward. In 2022 we launched our SEND Blueprint for Success - a document designed to help anyone at the start of their journey of designing and delivering of an SEND school. We hope this document makes a difference, and look forward to how it develops in the future.
